Well, the newest "Facebook Killer" is out and running ramped. Ok, it may not be a FB killer but I just had to use those "Buzz words" when I could.

The new Google + (plus) has started hitting the web like crazy. There are tons of post talking about it. I have been reading ahead to see what all you can do with your new Google + (plus). Of course you can find post on sites like Search Engine Land, Mashable..... I looked for some different stuff & stuff that is on Google Plus.

I found someone that has a post Some useful-but-maybe-not-obvious features of Google+ this gives you an inside look at some features...some of them are WAY cooler than Facebook or Twitter. One of the things I like is that you can make Circles (list) so when you make a post you can send it to just that group of people. I think that will be super cool so you are not sending out a great new song you found to people that you work with. Or maybe I can send out health info to only my people that are into healthy stuff....cool eh?

Some Google + (Plus) Help

Ok, once you are in...You may want to set up a filter in your Gmail. That way all messages from @plus.google.com will all go into 1 folder & not clog your inbox.

You will also see in the Upper Right of any Plus Post or in your Gmail there is a SHARE box next to your name. This is where you can post updates. HINT! Make sure that if there is a CIRCLE group listed that you X it out if you are trying to send to a different group.

The part called SPARKLES is cool. You can visit & search for different topics of News type feeds. Then when you chose to get a Sparkle...it will list that so you can just click and visit the latest news on that topic. If I wrote about American Idol & wanted the latest news on that then I would search Sparkles for American Idol and add it. Then I could see all that news rather than going and doing a G search.

From what I read, +1's from articles and sites will have an effect on your site or article being shown in the SPARKLES section. So make sure you have the +1 on your blog or site!

As usual, there will be a learning curve. So if you have any tips...help us out please.

Well, it looks like Google Plus uses some of the same things we saw when using BUZZ. So here are the ways that you can add a little umph to your plus post.

(*)word(*) = bold

(_)word(_) = italics

(-)word(-) = strikethrough

If you want to have someone notified or "Tagged" in your post...just do like you would Twitter or FB and put @name or you can do a +Name

You can also MUTE a thread! This will be very handy unless you want to continue to get notifications with each new comment on it.

Above I said to set up an email filter so your Inbox would not get flooded. Here is another way to handle all the email notifications - Up in the Right Corner click on the "Carrot" next to your name & Pic. Pick ACCOUNT SETTINGS from the DropDown,There you can click GOOGLE +,This is where you can choose to get email notifications for different reasons from your Google +

If you post something and do NOT want people to ReShare it...In he Upper Right of your post you will see a "Carrot" that when clicked gives you 4 choicesEdit PostDelete PostDisable CommentsDisable ReSharing

There is an age limit for joining and using Google + (Plus). If your Gmail or YouTube account believes you are under 18 years old then even if you get an invite to the new G + when you click over to Learn More & join you will see the following message - This feature is not available for your accountYou must be over a certain age to use this feature.

Because I was trying to help Cait set this up so she could be in contact with her Idol Boss and the other writers...I found this out.

I also went on a search for why...I found a Google person had said that during the testing phase, they are only allowing 18 and over to join. When they get all the "Child Protection" in place they will open it up to 13 y/o and over.

It does make sense because for sure...some kid under 18 will see, hear, or read something and a parent will want to sue.

There was no time frame as to when the child safe feature will be in place so if you are notified you are not old enough to be eligible...Just hold your horses. Bitching to Google will not change a thing.

Wow- Sheryl! Thanks for the great insights into google +!! I did add it to one of my blogs and will have to work on my others as well!! Do we have an area where everyone who has added it has listed their sites so we can take a visit?Hope you all are well!! Haven't been around much because of school!! Happy to have the summer off!

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